Volume CXXXI, Number 22 April 19, 2002 f

Dancers to present yearly show
COURTNEY WOO
STAFF WRITER

Hip-hop, step dancing, Chinese ribbon dances, modern improvisational dance, swing dance. Where can you enjoy this multicultural and eclectic ensemble? On Friday and Saturday night, come to Pickard Theater to witness the 31st annual Spring Dance Performance, put on for your enjoyment by the Bowdoin College Theater and Dance Department. The show is a chance for Dance department classes and student groups to show Bowdoin what they've got.

Liesl Finn '03, standing, rehearses for the annual spring performance. (Henry Coppola, Bowdoin Orient)

This semester marks an increased enthusiasm for student dance choreography here at Bowdoin. The number of student dance groups auditioning for spots in the dance show was larger than ever before. 18 student-choreographed dances, including large groups, solos, and duets, auditioned for a mere eight slots. The competition was fierce, but what emerged is a diverse mix of dance, ranging all the way from Asian inspired folk dances to 40's Swing Dance. According the Paul Sarvis, acting chair of the Theater and Dance Department, "This year's concert reflects a remarkable range of aesthetic and cultural perspectives on dance."

Performances by the Dance Department include a choreography class and intro, intermediate, and advanced rep classes. Paul Sarvis' choreography class is described as an exploration in structure and improvisation. The students on stage respond to the movements that Paul randomly calls out over a microphone. The dancers don't know what to expect, and so each performance is improvised and different from the last.

The intro and advanced rep classes are both choreographed by Gwyneth Jones. The intro dancers will be performing to selections by Sheryl Crow, Steve Earl, and Buddy Miller. Van Tran '02 says that "This intro class is the first dance class I've ever taken, and I love it." The dance for the intermediate rep class is choreographed by Lisa Hicks, a guest lecturer from Portland. Her students dance to contemporary Algerian, Arabic, and Indian Raij music.

Student-choreographed performances include a fast-paced hip-hop dance by VAGUE, choreographed by senior Sara Abbott, to N'Sync's "Dirty Pop." Jana Richardson '03 says, "There's a little bit of Dirty Pop in all of us. Whether you like N'Sync or not, you can't help but want to get up and dance."

The Bowdoin Unity Step Team will also be performing. Their moves originate from the step teams of black fraternities and sororities in the South, and have been in existence for over half a century.

The Ballroom Dance Club will be performing a 1940's swing dance choreographed by dance instructors from Portland.

Also on the program are solo dances performed by Kijan Bloomfield, Tien-Tien Lai, Ponah Ramus, and Aurelia Hall. In addition, Julie Dawson and Mayte Blasco will be performing a modern duet.

The show will take place Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20 at 8 p.m. in Pickard Theater. Tickets are free and open to the public. Come get your free ticket at the David Saul Smith Union information desk.